Volcanic ash cloud returns, Scottish skies closed

The
volcanic ash cloud that wrought havoc over the skies of Europe swept back into British airspace on Monday, grounding flights once again.

The volcanic ash cloud from Eyjafjallajokull is believed to have drifted south

Skies over parts of northern Scotland were closed, while passengers in southern and Northern Ireland were warned flights may be halted on Tuesday.

Ryanair last night said it expected disruptions and cancellations at airports in the west of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The Civil Aviation Authority, which oversees safety in the skies, insisted the area affected was âvery isolatedâ and on Monday night only two minor airports in the Hebrides had been closed.

A spokesman said they were not expecting any problems in England.

He said the situation would be updated on Tuesday but added: âThere will not be any impact on any London or English airports within the foreseeable or forecastable future.

‘Within 36 or 48 hours there could be some impact to Irish airspace and possibly mainland Scotland but itâs also possible there wonât be.â

The affected airports are at Barra and Benbecula.

Irish air traffic controllers said flights would be restricted over the country until at least 1pm on Tuesday, posing a threat to services from Dublin and Shannon as the plume of ash drifts across the Atlantic from Iceland.

Tens of thousands of Britons were stranded abroad when airspace was closed by the eruption of Icelandâs Eyjafjallajokull volcano last month.

That shutdown was estimated to have cost the European aviation industry up to £2.2billion.